Ark. House committee set to consider lt. gov. bill

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - An Arkansas House committee is scheduled to consider a Senate bill that would keep the lieutenant governor's office vacant until the November election.

The proposal comes after former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr resigned due to ethics violations.

The House committee is to meet Wednesday morning to discuss the bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Eddie Joe Williams of Cabot. If the committee approves the measure, the legislation will head to the full House for a vote.

The Senate unanimously approved the bill last week that would allow the governor to not call a special election for the lieutenant governor's office - if a vacancy in the office is within 10 months of the November election.

Darr, a Republican, resigned Feb. 1 after being fined $11,000 for ethics violations.

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